Systems and methods for electronic sound enhancement tuning

ABSTRACT

Example systems and methods for electronic sound enhancement tuning are disclosed. An example disclosed method includes sampling, with a microphone, an audio profile of engine noises in a cabin of a vehicle. The example method also includes comparing the sampled audio profile to a model audio profile. Additionally, the example methods includes, when the sampled audio profile does not satisfy a similarity threshold, applying a convergence function to the sampled audio profile to generate a target audio profile, and iterating until the target audio profile satisfies a similarity threshold.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation application of and claims priority toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/084674, filed on Mar. 30, 2016. Thecontents of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle sound systems and,more specifically, systems and methods for electronic sound enhancementtuning.

BACKGROUND

Electronic sound enhancement (ESE) is integrated into vehicles tocompensate for a lack of engine and exhaust noise with the cabin. Assound proofing of the cabin is improved to block out wind and roadnoise, the engine noise is also blocked. However, the engine and exhaustnoises give a driver a feeling of exhilaration. Sound boards areincluded in audio systems to simulate the engine and exhaust noises.

SUMMARY

The appended claims define this application. The present disclosuresummarizes aspects of the embodiments and should not be used to limitthe claims. Other implementations are contemplated in accordance withthe techniques described herein, as will be apparent to one havingordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings anddetailed description, and these implementations are intended to bewithin the scope of this application.

Example embodiments of systems and methods for electronic soundenhancement tuning process are disclosed. An example disclosed methodincludes sampling, with a microphone, of an audio profile of enginenoises in a cabin of a vehicle. The example method also includescomparing the sampled audio profile to a model audio profile.Additionally, the example methods includes, when the sampled audioprofile does not satisfy a similarity threshold, applying a convergencefunction to the sampled audio profile to generate a calibrated audioprofile for a target vehicle.

An example disclosed apparatus includes an audio capturer configured tosample, with a microphone, an audio profile of engine noises in a cabinof the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes an audio tunerconfigured to compare the sampled audio profile to a model audioprofile, and when the sampled audio profile does not satisfy asimilarity threshold, applying, with the processor, a convergencefunction to the sampled audio profile to generate a calibrated audioprofile.

An example tangible computer readable medium includes instructions that,when executed, cause a machine to sample, with a microphone, an audioprofile of engine noises in a cabin of a vehicle. The exampleinstructions also cause the machine to compare the sampled audio profileto a model audio profile. Additionally, the example instructions alsocause the machine to, when the sampled audio profile does not satisfy asimilarity threshold, apply a convergence function to the sampled audioprofile to generate a calibrated audio profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made toembodiments shown in the following drawings. The components in thedrawings are not necessarily to scale and related elements may beomitted, or in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated, soas to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features describedherein. In addition, system components can be variously arranged, asknown in the art. Further, in the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for electronic sound enhancementtuning in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the audio profile tuner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts graphs of example convergence functions used by the audioprofile tuner of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates electronic components used to implement the audioprofile tuner of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting an example method to tune a electronicsound enhancement system that may be implemented by the electroniccomponents of FIG. 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

While the invention may be embodied in various forms, there are shown inthe drawings and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary andnon-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsillustrated.

Generally, drivers receive pleasure from engine and exhaust noises thatresult from their driving input. This is especially true for sportiervehicles (though the experience for non-sporty vehicles may also beenhanced). To compensate for the blocked engine and exhaust noise, asound tuning entity (such as a vehicle manufacturer, a sound systemmanufacturer, or a vehicle custom part installer, etc.) generates anaudio profile that is downloaded onto a sound board connected to thesound system of the vehicle.

The audio profile defines a waveform to be played by the sound systembased on the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the engine, with the helpof some ancillary engine parameters. The audio profiles are divided intoRPM ranges (e.g., 0-50 RPM, 51-100 RPM, etc.) and correspondingfrequency orders. As used herein, an order is a frequency thatcorresponds to a multiple of the RPM. For example, the first order isthe RPM of the engine, and the second order is twice the RPM of theengine, etc. Often, the measured RPM is converted to revolutions persecond as measure in Hertz (Hz) (one Hz equals sixty RPM). The waveformplayed by the sound system to simulate the engine noise is a compositeof a selection of the orders and magnitudes (e.g. in decibel A-weighted)(dB(A))) corresponding to the orders as defined in the audio profile.Some of the selected orders are full orders. For example, if the RPM ofthe engine is 2100 RPM, the sound played by the sound system may includea 105 Hz frequency (the third order) at 15 dB(A), 140 Hz frequency (thefourth order) at 20 dB(A), and 175 Hz frequency (the fifth order) at 23dB(A), etc. Some of the selected orders are half orders. For example, ifthe RPM of the engine is 2100 RPM, the sound played by the sound systemmay include a 88 Hz frequency (the 2.5 order) at 17 dB(A), a 123 Hzfrequency (the 3.5 order) at 25 dB(A), and a 263 Hz frequency (the 7.5order) at 26 dB(A), etc.

As disclosed herein below, the audio tuning entity generates calibratedaudio profiles for the tuning vehicle (sometimes referred to as the“target vehicle”) based on a model audio profile. The model audioprofile may be sampled from a vehicle with a desired sound (e.g., onemodel audio profile for variants of the Ford® GT, another model audioprofile for variants of Ford® Mustang, etc.) or synthesized in the labto create a desired engine tone. The audio tuning entity generates aninitial audio calibration file for the target vehicle and downloads thatfile into the target vehicle. The audio tuning entity measures theresultant audio profile produced by the calibration and compares to themodel audio profile. The audio tuning entity applies a convergencefunction based on the differences to generate a new calibrated audioprofile. The audio tuning entity downloads the modified audio profile tothe target vehicle and recaptures the audio profile of the targetvehicle. This process repeats until the audio profile of the targetvehicle satisfies a similarity threshold when compared to the modelaudio profile.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 for electronic soundenhancement tuning in accordance with the teachings of the presentdisclosure. The system 100 of FIG. 1 includes a target vehicle 102, anaudio tuning entity 104 and a model vehicle 106. The system 100 tunes atarget audio profile 108 of the target vehicle 102 based on a modelaudio profile and a captured audio profile 110 of the target vehicle102.

The target vehicle 102 may be a standard gasoline powered vehicle, ahybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, or any othertype of vehicle. The target vehicle 102 may be non-autonomous,semi-autonomous, or autonomous. The target vehicle 102 includes partsrelated to mobility, such as a powertrain with an engine, atransmission, a suspension, a driveshaft, and/or wheels, etc. In theillustrated example, the target vehicle 102 includes a vehicle data bus112, vehicle data bus port 114, an engine control unit 116, a soundsystem 118, speakers 120, and an ESE sound board 122.

The vehicle data bus 112 communicatively couples sensors (e.g., theengine control unit 116, etc.), electronic control units, and subsystems(e.g., the sound system 118, the ESE sound board 122, etc.). In theillustrated example, the vehicle data bus 112 facilitates the enginecontrol unit 116 communicating with the sound system 118 and/or the ESEsound board 122. In some examples, the vehicle data bus 112 is acontroller area network (CAN) bus protocol as defined by InternationalStandards Organization (ISO) 11898-1. Alternately, in some examples, thevehicle data bus 112 may be a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST)bus, an Ethernet bus, or a controller area network flexible data(CAN-FD) bus (as defined by ISO 11898-7). The vehicle data bus 112 iscommunicatively coupled to the vehicle data bus port 114. In someexample, the vehicle data bus port 114 facilitates the audio tuningentity 104 downloading (sometimes referred to as “flashing”) the targetaudio profile 108 to the ESE sound board 122. In some additionalexamples, the vehicle data bus port 114 is an on-board diagnostics (OBD)port.

The engine control unit 116 controls the operation (e.g., valve timing,fuel injection timing, etc.) of an engine of the target vehicle 102. Atachometer in the engine control unit 116 measures rotations per minute(RPM) of a crankshaft of the engine of the target vehicle 102. Theengine control unit 116 communicates the RPM of the engine via thevehicle data bus 112.

The sound system 118 is couple to the speakers 120. The sound system118, as part of an infotainment head unit, receives inputs fromdifferent sources (e.g., a radio tuner, a mobile device communicativelycoupled to the infotainment head unit, applications, etc.) and generatesa signal to generate play on the speakers 120. The ESE sound board 122is communicatively coupled to the sound system 118. In some examples,the ESE sound board 122 is integrated into the sound system 118. The ESEsound board 122 stores the target audio profile 108 for the targetvehicle 102. The ESE sound board 122 monitors the RPM of the enginereceived from the engine control unit 116 via the vehicle data bus 112.Based on the RPM of the engine (and other desired engine parameters) andthe target audio profile 108, the ESE sound board 122 generates a signalto be played by the sound system 118 over the speakers 120. When thetarget audio profile 108 is generated by the audio tuning entity 104,the target audio profile 108 is downloaded to the ESE sound board 122via the vehicle data bus 112.

The audio tuning entity 104 is any suitable entity that tunes electronicsound enhancement (ESE) profiles of vehicles (e.g., the target vehicle102), such as a vehicle manufacturer, a sound system manufacturer, or avehicle custom part installer, etc. The audio tuning entity 104generates the target audio calibration profile 108 based on the modelaudio profile for the target vehicle 102 and the captured audioprofile(s) 110 from the target vehicle 102. The audio tuning entity 104iteratively tunes the target audio profile 108 until the target audioprofile 108 and the model audio profile are substantially similar (asdefined in connection with FIG. 2 below). In the illustrated example,the audio tuning entity includes a profile generator 124, an audioprofile database 126, and an audio profile tuner 128.

The profile generator 124 generates the calibration profiles. Ingeneral, a vehicle has a manufacturer (e.g., Ford, Toyota, BMW, Kia,etc.), a model (e.g., Mustang, FR-S, i8, GT4, etc.), and a variant(e.g., Mustang V6, Mustang EcoBoost, Mustang GT, etc.). Variants of thesame model may have different engine sizes (e.g., a six cylinder engine,an eight cylinder engine, etc.), different cabin sizes and/orconfigurations, and/or different wheel bases, etc. These differencescontribute to different unmodified audio profiles of vehicles of thesame model. In some examples, the profile generator 124 bases the modelprofile for the target vehicle 102 is based on an audio profile capturedfrom a model vehicle 106. In such some examples, the model vehicle 106is a variant of the target vehicle 102. In such a manner, the engine andexhaust audio experience may be the same or similar for variants of thesame model of vehicle. When the model vehicle 106 is used, an audiocapturing device (e.g., a microphone) is placed in the cabin of themodel vehicle 106 while the model vehicle 106 is driven so that theaudio capturing device captures audio in the cabin from the engine andexhaust cycling through the range of RPM (e.g., from 0 RPM to 7000 RPM)of the engine (sometimes referred to herein as a “session”). Multiplesessions may be recorded and averaged to produce the model audioprofile.

Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, the model profile iscreated and/or modified through audio engineering. For example, audiolevels at some frequency orders may be modified (e.g., the power (dB(A))of the frequency order is increased or decreased) to enhance the drivingexperience of the vehicle. For example, a certain set of frequencyorders may be associated with producing a heightened driver level ofsatisfaction when the vehicle accelerates. Once created, the profilegenerator 124 stores the model profiles in the audio profile database126. The audio profile database 126 may contain model profilesassociated with different target vehicles 102 based on manufacturer,model and/or variant.

As disclosed in more detail in connection with FIG. 2 below, the audioprofile tuner 128 generates the target audio profile 108 for the targetvehicle 102. The audio profile tuner 128 is communicatively coupled withan audio capture device 130 (e.g., a microphone) located in the cabin ofthe target vehicle. In some examples, the audio capture device 130 ispositioned to be where the driver would perceive the audio signal (e.g.,produced by the engine, the exhaust, and the ESE sound board 122). Theaudio captured by the audio capture device 130 includes the actualengine and exhaust noise of the target vehicle 102 (which may bepartially muffled because of cabin sound dampening to decrease roadnoise) and sounds played by the sound system 118 that are generated bythe ESE sound board 122. Because the audio is affected by reverberationand absorption of the sound waves, the location of the speakers 120,and/or the path of the sound waves to the audio capture device 130,etc., a target audio profile 108 generated for one model variant may nothave the same qualities when it is used in another model variant. Theaudio capture device 130 records one or more sessions. In some examples,the target vehicle 102 is driven on dynamometers when the audio capturedevice 130 records the session(s). Alternatively, the target vehicle isdriven on a track when the audio capture device 130 records thesession(s). The captured audio profile 110 may contain two or more ofthe sessions to be averaged by the audio profile tuner 128.

The audio profile tuner 128 processes the captured audio profile 110 andcompares it to one of the model audio profiles stored in the audioprofile database 126. The audio profile tuner 128 determines whether theprocessed captured audio profile 110 is substantially similar (asdescribed in connection with FIG. 2 below) to the model audio profile.If the processed captured audio profile 110 is not substantiallysimilar, the audio profile tuner 128 applies a convergence function tothe processed captured audio profile 110 to increase the similaritybetween the processed captured audio profile 110 and the model audioprofile. In such a manner, the audio profile tuner 128 generates thetarget audio profile 108. The audio profile tuner 128 downloads thetarget audio profile 108 to the ESE sound board 122 of the targetvehicle 102. The audio profile tuner 128 iterates this process (e.g.,recording the captured audio profile 110 and generating the target audioprofile 108) until the processed captured audio profile 110 issubstantially similar to the model audio profile.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the audio profile tuner 128 of FIG. 1. Theaudio profile tuner 128 generates a finalized target audio profile 108based on a model audio profile stored in the audio profile database 126and captured audio profiles 110 of the target vehicle 102. In theillustrated example, the audio profile tuner 128 includes an audiocapturer 202, an audio analyzer 204, an audio tuner 206, and an audioflasher 208.

The audio capturer 202 receives and/or otherwise retrieves that capturedaudio profile 108 from the audio capture device 130 in the targetvehicle 102. In some examples, when the captured audio profile 108includes more than one captured session, the audio capturer 202 combinesthe audio from the sessions together to generate a combined capturedaudio profile 210. In some examples, to combine the sessions together,the audio capturer 202 averages the audio of the sessions.Alternatively, in some examples, the audio capturer 202 selects theminimum values between the sessions or the maximum values between thesessions.

The audio analyzer 204 receives or otherwise retrieves the combinedcaptured audio profile 210 from the audio capturer 202. The audioanalyzer 204 converts the combined captured audio profile 210 into thefrequency domain. The audio analyzer 204 separates the combined capturedaudio profile 210 into RPM ranges and orders. For example, the audioanalyzer 204 may separate the combined captured audio profile 210 intoorders (e.g., the 2.5 order, the 3 order, the 3.5 order, etc.). In suchan example, the audio analyzer 204 also may separate the combinedcaptured audio profile 210 into RPM ranges that span 40 RPM from 600 RPMto 7000 RPM (e.g., 600 RPM, 640 RPM, 680 RPM, etc.) so that each orderhas defined RPM ranges. The audio analyzer 204 determines the power(e.g., in dB(A)) of the combined captured audio profile 210 for theorders at each of the RPM ranges. For example, the 3.5 order at 1840 RPMmay have a power of −51 dB(A). In some examples, the audio analyzer 204may include Artemis™ Suite developed by HEAD Acoustics GmbH. The audioanalyzer 204 compiles the RPM-order-power information into an analyzedaudio profile 212.

The audio tuner 206 receives or otherwise retrieves the analyzed audioprofile 212 from the audio analyzer 204. The audio tuner 206 alsoretrieves the model audio profile from the audio profile database 126.The audio tuner 206 compares the analyzed audio profile 212 and themodel audio profile. To compare analyzed audio profile 212 and the modelaudio profile, the audio tuner 206 determines the differences betweenthe power at each order and RPM of the analyzed audio profile 212 to thecorresponding order and RPM of the model audio profile.

To determine whether the analyzed audio profile 212 and the model audioprofile are substantially similar, the audio tuner 206 defines atolerance value and a similarity threshold. The tolerance value is apower level (in dB(A)) that specifies an absolute difference between theRPM-order pairs of the analyzed audio profile 212 and the model audioprofile for the audio tuner 206 to consider the RPM-order pair to be amatch. For example, if the tolerance value is 3 dB(A), the 1800 RPM-3.5order power value for the analyzed audio profile 212 is −32 dB(A), andthe 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for the model audio profile is −34dB(A), the 1800 RPM-3.5 order pair is considered to match. Thesimilarity threshold specifies a percentage of the RPM-order pairs in afrequency order that are to match for the audio tuner 206 to determinethat the order in the analyzed audio profile 212 matches thecorresponding order in the model audio profile. For example, if thesimilarity threshold is 80%, and 82% of the power levels of the 3.5order of the analyzed audio profile 212 are within the tolerancethreshold, the audio tuner 206 determines that the 3.5 order of theanalyzed audio profile 212 matches the 3.5 order of the model audioprofile. The audio tuner 206 determines that the analyzed audio profile212 is substantially similar to the model audio profile when all theorders of the analyzed audio profile 212 satisfy the similaritythreshold. If the analyzed audio profile 212 is substantially similar tothe model audio profile, the audio tuner 206 does not apply theconvergence function. Rather, the audio tuner 206 generates a finalizedaudio profile 214 without changing the analyzed audio profile 212.

For orders in the analyzed audio profile 212 that do not satisfy thesimilarity threshold, the audio tuner 206 applies a convergence functionto the RPM-order pairs of the analyzed audio profile 212. Theconvergence function generates a value to modify the power level of theRPM-order pairs of the analyzed audio profile 212 based on thedifference between the RPM-order pairs of the analyzed audio profile 212and the corresponding RPM-order pairs of the model audio profile. Forexample, if the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for the analyzed audioprofile 212 is −27 dB(A), and the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for themodel audio profile is −34 dB(A), the convergence function generates thevalue to apply to the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for the analyzedaudio profile 212 based on −7 (−34 dB(A)-−27 dB(A)).

FIG. 3 depicts graphs of example convergence functions 302 and 304. Alinear convergence function 302 generates a value equal to thedifference between the power level of the RPM-order pair of the analyzedaudio profile 212 (A_(dB(A))) and the corresponding power level of theRPM-order pair of the model audio profile (T_(dB(A))). For example, ifthe difference between the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for theanalyzed audio profile 212 and the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value forthe model audio profile is −7 dB(A), the linear convergence function 302generates a value of −7 dB(A) to add to the 1800 RPM-3.5 order powervalue of the analyzed audio profile 212. A variable convergence function304 generates a value that depends on the absolute value the differencebetween the power levels of the RPM-order pair of the analyzed audioprofile 212 (A_(dB(A))) and the corresponding power level of theRPM-order pair of the model audio profile (T_(dB(A))). The variableconvergence function 304 is a non-linear approach that in some casesgenerates a greater value than the measured delta, and in other casesapplies a smaller value than the measured delta. For example, if thedifference between the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for the analyzedaudio profile 212 and the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for the modelaudio profile is −7 dB(A), the variable convergence function 304 maygenerate a value of −5 dB(A) to add to the 1800 RPM-3.5 order powervalue of the analyzed audio profile 212. As another example, if thedifference between the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for the analyzedaudio profile 212 and the 1800 RPM-3.5 order power value for the modelaudio profile is −15 dB(A), the variable convergence function 304 maygenerate a value of −20 dB(A) to add to the 1800 RPM-3.5 order powervalue of the analyzed audio profile 212. The actual slope and shape ofthe variable convergence function 304 can be determined by the user andis most effective when based on the tolerance set for the target vehicle102. For example, it can be beneficial to have an output adjustmentdB(A) to be less than or equal to the measured dB(A) when the measureddB(A) is within a reasonable measure (eg. ≦1.5 times the value) of thetolerance, and an output greater than the measured dB(A) when themeasured dB(A) is greater than a reasonable measure (eg. >1.5 times thevalue) from the target vehicle tolerance. Returning to FIG. 2, audiotuner 206 generates a converged audio profile 216 by applying theconvergence function to the power values of the orders in the analyzedaudio profile 212 that do not satisfy the similarity threshold.

The audio flasher 208 receives or otherwise retrieves the finalizedaudio profile 214 or the converged audio profile 216 from the audiotuner 206. The audio flasher 208 converts the finalized audio profile214 or the converged audio profile 216 into the target audio profile108. The conversion changes the finalized audio profile 214 or theconverged audio profile 216 into a format to be downloaded into the ESEsound board 122 of the target vehicle 102. In some examples, the audioflasher 208 is communicatively coupled to the vehicle (e.g., via thevehicle data bus port 114) to download the target audio profile 108 intothe ESE sound board 122.

FIG. 4 illustrates electronic components 400 that may be used toimplement the audio profile tuner 128 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In theillustrated example, the electronic components 400 include a processoror controller 402, memory 404, storage 406, input devices 408, outputdevices 410, and a data bus 412.

The processor or controller 402 may be any suitable processing device orset of processing devices such as, but not limited to: a microprocessor,a microcontroller-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit, or oneor more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). In theillustrated example, the processor or controller 402 is structured toinclude the audio capturer 202, the audio analyzer 204, the audio tuner206, and the audio flasher 208. The memory 404 may be volatile memory(e.g., RAM, which can include non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM,ferroelectric RAM, and any other suitable forms); non-volatile memory(e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-basednon-volatile solid-state memory, etc.), unalterable memory (e.g.,EPROMs), and read-only memory. In some examples, the memory 404 includesmultiple kinds of memory, particularly volatile memory and non-volatilememory. The storage 406 may include any high-capacity storage device,such as a hard drive, and/or a solid state drive. In the illustratedexample, the audio profile database 126 is stored in the storage 406.

The memory 404 and the storage 406 are a computer readable medium onwhich one or more sets of instructions, such as the software foroperating the methods of the present disclosure can be embedded. Theinstructions may embody one or more of the methods or logic as describedherein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions may residecompletely, or at least partially, within any one or more of the memory404, the computer readable medium, and/or within the processor 402during execution of the instructions.

The terms “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and“computer-readable medium” should be understood to include a singlemedium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets ofinstructions. The terms “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and“computer-readable medium” also include any tangible medium that iscapable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions forexecution by a processor, or that cause a system to perform any one ormore of the methods or operations disclosed herein. As used herein, theterm “computer readable medium” is expressly defined to include any typeof computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and to excludepropagating signals.

The input device(s) 408 facilitate a user interacting with theelectronic components 400. Additionally, one or more of the inputdevices 408 are communicatively coupled to the audio capture device 130in the target vehicle 102. The input device(s) 408 can be implementedby, for example, a serial port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, aIEEE 1339 port, a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, atrack-pad, and/or a voice recognition system.

The output device(s) 410 facilitate the electronic components 400providing information to the user. Additionally, one or more of theoutput devices 410 are communicatively coupled to the ESE sound board122 of the target vehicle 102. The output devices 410 can beimplemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emittingdiode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystaldisplay, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a touchscreen, etc.), and/orcommunication devices (the serial port, the USB port, the IEEE 1339port, etc.).

The data bus 412 communicatively couples the processor 402, the memory404, the storage 406, the input devices 408, and the output devices 410.The data bus 412 may be implemented by one or more interface standards,such as an Ethernet interface, a USB interface, PCI express interface,and/or a Serial ATA interface, etc.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting an example method to tune a electronicsound enhancement system of the target vehicle 102 that may beimplemented by the electronic components 400 of FIG. 4. Initially, theaudio capturer 202 acquires an initial captured audio profile 110 fromthe target vehicle 102 (block 502). In some examples, the audio capturer202 acquires the captured audio profile 110 using the audio capturedevice 130 positioned in the target vehicle 102 to capture audio fromthe perspective of the driver. The audio analyzer 204 analyzes thecaptured audio profile 110 to identify the power values associated withRPM value-frequency order pairs and generates the analyzed audio profile212 of FIG. 2 (block 504). The audio tuner 206 retrieves the model audioprofile from the audio profile database 122 (block 506). The audio tuner206 compares the power values associated with RPM value-frequency orderpairs of the analyzed audio profile 212 to the corresponding powervalues associated with RPM value-frequency order pairs of the modelaudio profile (block 508).

The audio tuner 206 determines whether the analyzed audio profile 212satisfies a similarity threshold (block 510). The analyzed audio profile212 satisfies the similarity threshold when a percentage of the powerlevels in each of the frequency orders satisfy the tolerance value whencompared to the corresponding power levels in the model audio profile.If the analyzed audio profile 212 satisfies the similarity threshold,the audio tuner 206 finalizes the target audio profile 108 for thetarget vehicle 102 (block 512). The method of FIG. 5 then ends.

If the analyzed audio profile 212 does not satisfy the similaritythreshold, the audio tuner 206 applies the convergence function (e.g.,one of the convergence functions 302 and 304 of FIG. 3) to the analyzedaudio profile 212 to generate the converged audio profile 216 (block514). The audio flasher 208 generates the target audio profile 108 basedon the converged audio profile 216 and applies (e.g., downloads) thetarget audio profile 108 to the ESE sound board 122 of the targetvehicle 102 (block 516). The audio capturer 202 then reacquires thecaptured audio profile 110 from the target vehicle 102 (block 518).

The flowchart of FIG. 5 is representative of machine readableinstructions that comprise one or more programs that, when executed by aprocessor (such as the processor 402 of FIG. 4), implement the audioprofile tuner 128 of FIGS. 1 and/or 2. Further, although the exampleprograms are described with reference to the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 5, many other methods of implementing the example audio capturer202, the example audio analyzer 204, the example audio tuner 206, theexample audio flasher 208 and/or, more generally, the example audioprofile tuner 128 may alternatively be used. For example, the order ofexecution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocksdescribed may be changed, eliminated, or combined.

In this application, the use of the disjunctive is intended to includethe conjunctive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is notintended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the”object or “a” and “an” object is intended to denote also one of apossible plurality of such objects. Further, the conjunction “or” may beused to convey features that are simultaneously present instead ofmutually exclusive alternatives. In other words, the conjunction “or”should be understood to include “and/or”. The terms “includes,”“including,” and “include” are inclusive and have the same scope as“comprises,” “comprising,” and “comprise” respectively.

The above-described embodiments, and particularly any “preferred”embodiments, are possible examples of implementations and merely setforth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Manyvariations and modifications may be made to the above-describedembodiment(s) without substantially departing from the spirit andprinciples of the techniques described herein. All modifications areintended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure andprotected by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of enhancing sound in a vehicle, themethod comprising: sampling, with a microphone, an audio profile ofvehicle noises in a cabin of the vehicle; comparing, with a processor,the sampled audio profile to a model audio profile; and when the sampledaudio profile does not satisfy a similarity threshold, applying, withthe processor, a convergence function to specify an audio signal to playon speakers of the vehicle.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audioprofile is a first audio profile, and the method including, when thesampled audio profile does not satisfy the similarity threshold: playingthe audio signal on the speakers of the vehicle; and sampling, with themicrophone, a second audio profile of the vehicle noises in the cabin ofthe vehicle, the vehicle using the audio signal to enhance the vehiclenoises.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signal to play onspeakers of the vehicle is specified based on the revolutions per minuteof an engine of the vehicle.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein samplingthe audio profile of the vehicle noises in the cabin of the vehicleincludes driving the vehicle so that an engine of the vehicle cyclesfrom a minimum revolutions per minute to a maximum revolutions perminute.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the convergence function isbased on differences between the sampled audio profile and the modelaudio profile.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the convergencefunction adjusts the sampled audio profile by values greater than thedifferences between the sampled audio profile and the model audioprofile.
 7. An apparatus to enhance sound in a vehicle, the apparatuscomprising: an audio capturer configured to sample, with a microphone,an audio profile of vehicle noises in a cabin of the vehicle; and anaudio tuner configured to: compare the sampled audio profile to a modelaudio profile; and when the sampled audio profile does not satisfy asimilarity threshold, applying, with the a processor, a convergencefunction to the sampled audio profile to specify an audio signal to playon speakers of the vehicle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein theaudio profile is a first audio profile, wherein the apparatus includesan audio flasher and wherein, when the sampled audio profile does notsatisfy the similarity threshold the audio capturer is configured tosample, with the microphone, a second audio profile of the vehiclenoises in the cabin of the vehicle, the vehicle using the audio signalto enhance the vehicle noises.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein theaudio signal to play on speakers of the vehicle is based on therevolutions per minute of an engine of the vehicle.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein to sample the audio profile of the vehicle noises inthe cabin of the vehicle, the vehicle is configured to drive so that anengine of the vehicle cycles from a minimum revolutions per minute to amaximum revolutions per minute.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7, whereinthe convergence function is based on differences between the sampledaudio profile and the model audio profile.
 12. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the convergence function adjusts the sampled audio profileby values greater than the differences between the sampled audio profileand the model audio profile.
 13. A non-transitory computer readablemedium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:sample, with a microphone, an audio profile of vehicle noises in a cabinof a vehicle; compare the sampled audio profile to a model audioprofile; and when the sampled audio profile does not satisfy asimilarity threshold, apply a convergence function to the sampled audioprofile to specify an audio signal to play on speakers of the vehicle.14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein theaudio profile is a first audio profile, and wherein the instructionscause the machine to, when the sampled audio profile does not satisfythe similarity threshold: download the audio signal to the vehicle; andsample, with the microphone, a second audio profile of the vehiclenoises in the cabin of the vehicle, the vehicle using the audio signalto enhance the vehicle noises.
 15. The non-transitory computer readablemedium of claim 13, wherein the audio signal to play on speakers of thevehicle is based on the revolutions per minute of an engine of thevehicle.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13,wherein the convergence function is based on differences between thesampled audio profile and the model audio profile.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein theconvergence function adjusts the sampled audio profile by values greaterthan the differences between the sampled audio profile and the modelaudio profile.